Ball-winding machine.



'PATENTBn-JUNB 7, 1904.

RMAN. BALL WINDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 13, 1903.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.-

NO MODEL.

No. 762,090. PATBNTED JUNE 7, 1904.

P. RYAN.V BALL WINDING MACHINE.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED JULY 1a, 190s. No MODEL. ssHnjsTs-snnmr 2.

qu lill I "l Y' By .i ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUNE 7, 1'904.

P. RYAN. BALL WIND-ING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 13. 190s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June v, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK RYAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PHILIP F. DONOHUE, OF NEI/V YORK, N. Y.

BALL-WINDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,090, dated June 7, 1904.

Application filed July 13, 1903. Serial No. 165,203. (No model.)

My invention relates toa ball-winding ma chine; and the object that I have in view is the provision of means by which a winding of yarn or equivalent material may be applied uniformly to a core to produce a spherical article, the latter being adapted for use as a baseball.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for condensing the winding during the application thereof to the core, thus producing a relatively hard spherical article.

A further object is to construct the machine for operation simultaneously on a plurality of articles and to provide for the easy insertion of the cores and the like removal of the wound articles.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be delined in the annexed claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indi` cate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a ball-winding machine constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the upper rolls 22 23 spread to the positions which they assume when the windings are applied to the spherical cores, the latter being placed between the upper and lower sets of rolls. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken in the plane of the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direcpounding devices in operative relation to the work. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section through one of the tappet devices for intermittently moving endwise one set of rolls and an alarm mechanism associated therewith; and Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section through one pair of rolls of the group, illustrating the coupling between said rolls of the pair, said rolls being adjusted to abnormal extreme positions within the length of the coupling or link.

5 designates a main frame having a horizontal back rail 6 and a similar front rail 7,

. said back rail being longer than the front rail and joined at its end portions to members 8, disposed at the respective end portions of said frame. The back part 'of the frame is provided with bearings for the accommodation of the main shaft 9, the same being provided at one end with a driving-pulley 10. This main shaft is equipped with wide belt-pulleys 11 12, adapted to drive the rolls presently described, and said shaft is also provided with fast and loose pulleys 13 14 and with bevelgears 15, the purpose of which will also be hereinafter described. From the end portions of the front rail`7 rise the posts 16, which are expanded or widened above said rail 7 to form the arms 17, the latter being provided with the downwardly converging members 18. Said members of the frame are provided with upwardly-diverging ways, which are preferablyY embodied as slots 19, (see Fig. 2,) and these slots accommodate the slidable rollbearings 20 21. It is to be understood that the posts at the respective ends of the horizontal rail 7 are provided with the inclined guideways 19, which accommodate the four bearings 20,21 for the upper rolls 22 23. The frame is also provided at the end portions of the rail 7 with suitable shaft-bearings 24, in which are journaled the rolls 25 26.

The rolls 22 25 are coupled to` constitute one pair by means of the coupling or link 27. (Shown more clearly by Figs. 3 and 5.) The bight at one end of this coupling or link is adapted to t snugly, but slidingly, in agroove 28, which is provided at one end of the roll 25. The other end portion of thev coupling or link is contracted at 29 in Fig. 5, and this contracted end portion of the coupling or link fits snugly in an annular' groove 30, which is provided in a corresponding end portion of the companion roll 22 of said pair. The other pair of rolls 23 26 are similarly coupled by having a link 31 fit in grooved portions of said rolls in the manner shown by Figs. 3 and 5 in connection with the rolls 22 25, said coupling or link 31 being disposed at one end of the rolls 23 26, while the other coupling or link 27 is at the opposite end of the other pair of rolls 22 25.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the lower rolls 25 26 are mounted in stationary bearings and in the same horizontal plane, whereas the other rolls 22 23 are supported by slidable bearings, which are adapted to move upwardly in divergent paths during the progress of winding the yarn around spherical cores which are adapted to be placed between the rolls 22, 23, 25, and 26, constituting the group or set.

1t is to be understood that the coupling or link 27 is fitted to the grooves in rolls 22 and 25 of one pair. tovinsurc the simultaneous endwise movement of the two rolls of the pair, because the coupling or link occupies the grooves of the rolls, the other coupling or link 31 serving a like purpose in connection with the other pair of rolls 23 26. Before the machine is started the upper movable rolls 22 23 and their bearings 2O 21 lie close down to the rolls 25 26, which are mounted in the stationarybearings 24, because the rolls and bearings are free to descend by gravity in the absence of spherical cores between the sets of rolls, the bearings 2O 21 sliding freely in the ways and the couplings or links 27 and 31 sliding freely in the grooves of the rolls 2526. It is evident that the rolls 22 23 may be lifted readily by hand for the insertion of the spherical cores between the upper rolls 22 23 and the lower rolls 25 26. During such vupward movement of the rolls 22 23, either by hand or by the increase in the diameter of the article by the application of the winding automatically thereto during the operation of the machine, the couplings or links 27 move upwardly with said rolls 22 23, said couplings or links having slidable movement relatively to the rolls 25 26 and remaining in engagement with the grooves of the rolls 22 23 25 26, so as to be effective in moving the rolls 22 23 endwise with the rolls 25 26, as required bythe operation of the machine.

Each roll is roughened, corrugated, milled, or otherwise treated to produce a frictional gripping-surface for the major portion of the length of said roll, as indicated at 32 in the drawings, but each roll has a certain length thereofl left in a smooth condition, as at 33. The rolls are arranged for their gripping-surfaces to lie between the members 17 of the frame, while the smooth portions 33 of said rolls are extended through and beyond the Vbearings 20, 21, and 24. The rolls of the group are thus mounted in positions for the gripping-surfaces to have the proper frictional engagement with the work, and said rolls are' capable of rotation on their axes and of endwise-sliding movement through their bearings without bringing the roughened or milled frictional surfaces of the rolls in contact with said bearings, thus minimizing the liability of the roughened surfaces to cut out the bearings. One roll of each pair is adapted to be positively driven, and in Fig'. 1 of the drawings I have shown the rolls 25 26 as being equipped at their respective end portions with pulleys 34 35, said pulleys being operatively connected with the wide pulleys 11 12 on the main shaft 9 by intermediate belts 36. Thesebelts serve to positively drive the rolls 25 26 in the same direction and at uniform speed, but the rotation of the shiftable and laterally-diverging rolls 22 23 is secured by the frictional engagement of said rolls with the work, the latter being driven by friction from the lower positively-driven rolls 25 26. It will be understood that all the rolls of the group rotate in one direction and at substantially uniform speed.

I will now proceed to describe the means for imparting the endwise movement to the positively-drivenvrolls 25 26, the movement of which is communicated by the couplings or links 27 and 31 to the frictionally-driven rolls The roll 25 is provided at one end with a cross-head 37, while the roll 26 is provided at the opposite end with a cross-head 38, each cross-head being fastened or attached in a suitable way to the proper roll. To these cross-heads are pivoted the pitmen 39 40, respectively, and these pitmen are loosely fitted on the wrist-pins 41 42, which are fixed securely to slidable travelers or nuts 43 44, said wrist-pins extending outwardly from the travelers, as shown by Fig. 1.

On the end portions 8 of the frame are suitable bearings 45, which accommodate the counter-shafts 46, each shaft having a bevel-gear 47 at one end disposed in intermeshing engagement with the bevel-gears 15 on the main shaft 9, thereby driving the counter-shafts 46 simultaneously and in opposite directions. The counter-shafts are provided with heads 48, in which are mounted the transverse feedscrews 49, the same having threads of opposite hand, said screws having threaded engagement with the travelers 43 44, and they are mounted for free rotation in the heads 48. 1t will be seen that the feed-screws 49 rotate with the heads 48, and at the same time they are capable of an independent rotation on their axes within said head. This independent rotation of the feed-screws is secured by the employment of tappet studs or pins 50, which are fixed to an end portion of each feed-screw at a point outside of the rotary head 48, and in the path of these tappets are toe-pieces 51,

TOO

IIO

IIS

ISO

-end portion of a threaded shank 52. Said shank is mounted for horizontal adjustment in a horizontal tube 53, which is secured to a vertical stem 54, the threaded shank 52 being secured adjustably in the tube 53 by suitable nuts 55, as indicated by Figs. 1 and 2. The stem 54 is iitted for vertical adjustment in a hollow stand 56, and said stem is held at any desired elevation by a nut 57. rlhe described construction provides for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the toe 51 with relation to the path of the tappet-studs 50 on one feedscrew, which screws are carried by the rotary heads 48, thus enabling the toe to be accurately adjusted with relation to the tappet-l studs.

The adjustment of the travelers 43 44 to the limits of their movement by the operation of the feed-screws 49 is indicated by an audible -alarm mechanism, one of which is associated with each traveler. As shown by Fig. 4, the alarm device is embodied in the form of a bell 58, the base 59 of which is attached to each rotary head 48. The striker of the bell is -pivoted at 61, and it is provided withan arm 62, which is disposed in the path of a stud 63, that extends laterally from and is' movable with one of the travelers or nuts, as 43. It is evident that when the traveler 43 is moved nearly the full distance in one direction by the feed-screw 49 the stud 63 of said traveler will engage with the arm 62 of the striker,

thereby moving the latter in one direction; but when the stud passes the striker-arm a spring 64 becomes effective in impelling the striker forcibly against the bell, thereby giving the alarm.

The counter-shafts 46, which are located at the respective ends of the frame, are driven simultaneously in opposite directions and'at equal speeds, and the rotation of the heads 48 with the shafts serves to impart rotary motion to the shiftable wrist-pins 41 42, whereby the of the other set and at equal speeds.

At the beginning of the operation of winding .yarn on the spherical cores,as will be .presently described, the travelers 43 44 are adjusted in reversed positions to that shown in Fig. l-that is to say, the feed-screws 49 should be rotated by hand in order to bring the travelers at the centers of the rotary heads 48. After a certain quantity of yarn shall have been wound on the spherical cores the tappet-studs 50 of the feed-screws are made to engage with the toes 51 of thel horizontal stems, and at each rotation of the heads 48 the tappet-studs serve, in connection with said toes, to impart a partial revolution to the feedscrews 49, thereby gradually shifting the travelers lengthwise along the feed-screws and toward the bells 58 in order to increase the length of stroke imparted to the rolls on the endwise movement thereof, whereby the stroke of the rolls gradually increases with a corresponding increase in the diameter of the spherical object as the winding progresses.

In connection with the set of rolls and the means for rotating them to impart a rotary motion to the spherical objects I employ means for pounding' the winding as it is applied to each of the objects. The-pounding devices contemplate the employment of a series of anvil-posts 65, which are fixed to the front rail 7 in positions to extend upwardly between the rolls 25 26, each anvil-post being provided with a freely-shiftable centering-ball 66. Directly over each anvil-post is arranged a verticallymovable hammer, which is shown by Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, in the form of a vertical plunger or stem 68, the latter being provided with a foot-piece 69, having a shiftable ball 70. The series of hammer-plungers 68 are mounted for slidable movement in horizontal rails 71 72, which are secured to thc posts 16, and each plunger is provided with a collar 73 and is held against rotary Vmovement by means of a guide 74, that is arranged to play in a longitudinal groove 75, which is provided in the plunger, said guide 74 being fixed to the upper rail- 7 2. (See Fig. 2.) The plungers 68 are provided at their upper ends with rearwardly-extending arms 76, which are disposed in the path of roller-shoes 77, the latter being mounted for free rotation at the outer ends of the tappet-arms 78. These tappet-arms are secured in different positions on a horizontal tappet-shaft 79, which is mounted in suitableV bearings provided in the upwardly and rearwardly extending bracketarms 80, provided on the frame. rlhe tappetarms 78 are disposed in groups, two of said Aarms being cast in a group and in the form of a spider. The series of spiders are fixed at proper intervals on the tappet-shaft 7 9, and the arms of each spider are disposed in staggered `or disalinedrelation with respect to the arms on adjacent spiders, whereby the tappetarms operate on the arms 76 of the plungers tolift them at different intervals, thusinsuring the operation of the plungers at different periods. Each plunger is forced downwardly by a spring 81, coiled loosely around the upper part of the plunger and bearing against the collar 73 thereof. The hammerplungers are arranged to rapidly and positively reciprocate by the action of the tappetarms, and they are impelled downwardly by the action of the springs 81 to secure the desired pounding or hammering action upon ject. The tappet-shaft 79 is disposed in rear IOO IIO

of the group of rolls, and said shaft has fast and loose pulleys 82 83, disposed in alincment with the fast and loose pulleys 13 14 on the main shaft 9. A belt 84 lits around the pair of loose pulleys 18 82 when the tappet-shaft 79 remains at rest; but to bring the tappets .and the plurality or' hammers into action the operator should shift the belt 84 from the loose pulleys into engagement with the fast pulleys 14 83, a suitable lever 85 being provided for this purpose.

The yarn or other material to be wound on the spherical cores is contained on a series of spools 86, carried loosely on ahorizontalspindle or arbor 87, the latter being mounted d etachably in suitable hanger-arms 88 of the frame. r1`hc arbor 87 may be dismounted from the hanger-arms-as, for example by moving it endwise therein-the spools 86 slippingofl' the arbor in order to conveniently replace the spools, the latter being disposed in rear of the group of rolls and adjacent to the lower rolls 25 26, so that the winding can be drawn from the upper sides of the spools 86 directly over the upper faces ot' said lower rolls.

In operation the yarn-filled spools 86 and.

the arbor 87 are placed in the machine in rear of the rolls, and a series of spherical cores is placed between the upper and lower rolls of the group or set. rlfhese spherical cores rest directly upon the lower rolls 25 26 and the center balls 66 of the anvils, whereas the upper rolls 22 23 have 'frictional engagement with said cores, and the hammer-plungers are adapted to pound upon the cores in vertical alinement with the anvils 65. Then themachine is first started in operation, the belts 36 rotate the lower rolls 25 26 positively, and the counter-shafts 46, with the wrist-pins 41 42 and the pitinen 39 40, impart the desired endwise movement to the two pairs of rolls. The rotation o'r' the rolls on their axes tends to turn the spherical cores, and the frictional engagement of the two pairs of rolls with said cores tends to also rotate the cores, the rolls of one pair moving in an opposite direction and at equal speed to the rolls of the other pair. This has a tendency to wind the yarn uniformly around the cores, and after a certain quantity of yarn shall have been wound on the cores the operator shifts the belt 84 by manipulating the lever 85 in a way to make the belt drive the tappet-shai't 79 from the main shaft 9. The tappet-arms are driven by the shaft 79 to operate the hammer-plungers 68, the springs 81 or' which impel the plungers forcibly in a downward direction, so as to pound or hammer the yarn on the core during the winding operation, thereby compacting the winding on the core and producing a spherical article with a con densed hardened winding. After the proper quantity of yarn shall have been wound on the cores the machine is stopped and the completed balls A are removed from position between the rolls.

It will be observed that as the diameter of the articles increases by the application of the winding thereto the rolls 22 23 diverge in upward directions uniformly, and at the same time the tappet devices associated with the feed-screws 49 impart a gradually progressive movement to the nuts or travelers 43 44 in a way to gradually increase the stroke of the endwise movement of the two pairs of rolls, whereby the machine is self-adjusting to the increase in size of the cores by the application of the winding thereto.

It is to be observed that the rolls 25 26 are associated with the devices which impart the reciprocating movement and the rotary motionvthereto, whereas the upper rolls 22 23 are disconnected from said devices for giving the reciprocating and rot-ary motion, except that each upper roll is connected by a slidable link or coupling 27 or 31 to one lower roll, which link or coupling permits the upper roll to have the desired upward travel with respect to the lower roll under the increase in the diameter of the spherical articles, while at the same time the upper rolls are moved endwise simultaneously with their companion lower rolls. By reason of the disassociation of the upper rolls from the rotary and reciprocating driving devices these rolls may be said to be capable of a free upward movement in divergent paths according to the increase in size of the articles, and said rolls may be lifted at the completion of the winding operation to readily remove the articles from the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent4 1. A ball-winding machine having a group of rolls, certain of said rolls being movable laterally to other rolls of the group and all of said rolls being revoluble in the same direction, and means for reciprocating said rolls longitudinally simultaneously with the axial rotation thereof.

2. A ball-winding machine having a group oi' rolls disposed in pairs, means for rotating certain of the rolls, the remaining rolls being frictionall y driven by spherical articles adapted to be interposed within the rolls of the group, means connecting the rolls in sets, and devices for reciprocating the sets of rolls in opposite directions and at equal speeds.

3. A ball-winding machine, having a group of rolls coupled in pairs, means for rotating certain of said rolls on their axes and in one direction, and means for reciprocating the pairs of rolls simultaneously and in opposite directions, the upper rolls of the two pairs being free to move in divergent paths.

4. A ball-winding machine, having a group of rolls disposed in pairs, the lower rolls of each pair being mounted in stationary bearings and the upper rolls of said pairs'being IOO supported by bearings which are free to move in divergent paths, combined with means for rotating certain of the rolls at uniform speed and in one direction, and means for imparting reciprocating movement to the pairs of rolls in opposite .directions and at equal speeds.

. 5. A ball-windingmachine, having a group of rolls arranged to rotate interposed spherical cores, land hammer devices for operation on cores conlined between said rolls.

6. A ball-winding machine, having a group of rolls disposed to impart rotary movement to interposed spherical cores, anvils between the lower rolls of the group for supporting said cores adjacent to said lower' rolls, and hammers disposed for operation on said cores between the upper rolls of the group, said hammers being movable in the vertical planes of the anvils.

7 A ball-winding machine, having a group of rolls for imparting rotary motion to interposed spherical cores, a series of reciprocating hammer-plungers, means for forcibly impelling said hammer-plungers in one direction, and tappet-arms for moving the hammer-plungers positively in an opposite direction. Y

8. A ball-winding machine, having means for imparting rotary motion to spherical cores, a plurality oi' hammers mounted to operate on said cores during the application of windings to said cores, and means for imparting movement to said hammers.

9. A ball-winding machine, having means for imp arting rotary motion to a plurality of spherical cores, a series of anvils, a series of hammer-plungers for movement in the vertical planes of said anvils, each plunger having an arm and a collar, a spring acting against said collar, a shaft carrying a series of tappetarms disposed. for engagement at suitable intervals with said arms of the hammer-plungers, and means controllable at will for driving said tappet-shaft` 10. Aball-windingmachine, havingagroup of milled rolls coupled in pairs and disposed for the reception of spherical cores, links connecting said rolls in pairs and permitting the upper rolls of said pairs to move in divergent paths, means for rotating certain of the rolls, and means for imparting reciprocating movement to said rolls in opposite directions and at equal speed.

11. A ball-winding machine having a group of milled rolls disposed in pairs, means for rotating certain of said rolls, rotary heads, travelerslcarried by said heads and connected with certain of said rolls, and means for shifting the travelers with relation to the heads and for varying the veffective stroke or movement of the rolls proportionately to an increase in the winding applied to spherical cores adapted to be confined between the group of rolls.

12. A ball-winding machine having a group of milled rolls coupled in pairs, means for rotating certain of said rolls, rotary heads driven at equal speed, shittable travelers mounted on the heads and having wrist-pins connected to certain of said rolls, and means for automaticallyv shifting the travelers on said heads and thereby increasing the length of the elfective stroke or movement of the rolls proportion- -ately to an increase in the winding applied to spherical cores adapted to be confined between the group of rolls.

13. Aball-windingmachine,havingagroup of'rolls, means for rotating certain of said rolls, rotary heads provided with feed-screws, travelers controlled by said feed-screws and connected to said rolls, and means for gradually turning the feed-screws on the rotation of the heads and thereby shifting the travelers.

14. A ball-winding machine, having a group of rolls, means for rotating certain of said rolls, shafts mounted for rotation and provided with heads, feed-screws mounted in said heads to rotate therewith and provided with tappet-studs, toes disposed in the path of said studs for turning the feed-screws on the rotation of said heads, and travelers having threaded engagement with the screws and provided with wrist-pins which are connected with the rolls.

15. A ball-winding machine having means for compacting a winding on a core, said means including an anvil and a hammer, combined with means for rotating a core, and means for supplying a winding thereto.

16. A ball-winding machine having a plurality of devices `for compacting windings on cores, each device including an anvil and a hammer, and means for operating said hammers at different periods, combined with means for rotating the cores, and means for supplying windings to said cores.

17. A ball-winding machine having a group of rolls, means for rotating certain of said rolls, means for reciprocating the rolls of said group endwise, and means for compacting a winding on a core confined in and rotated by said group of rolls.

18. A ball-winding machine havingrolls coupled in pairs and grouped .to confine and rotate interposed spherical objects, certain of said rolls being movable laterally to other rolls under increased application of windings to the cores, and means for imparting endwise reciprocation to the pairs of rolls in opposite directions; said means for reciprocating the rolls including devices which are effective in progressively increasing the length of the successive endwise movements of the rolls proportionately to an increase in the windings applied to the cores.

19. A ball-winding machine having rolls revoluble in the same direction and coupled in sets, and means for imparting endwise reciprocation to the respective sets of rolls in op'- posite directions simultaneously; said means l@ '762,090 ,Y s

for reciprocating tlie rolls including' devices In testimony wlieieofliave signedmT name which are etl'ective in progressively ncreasto this specification in the presence of two subing' tlie length of tlie effective movements of scribime)` Witnesses.

tlie respective sets of rolls proportionately to PATRICK RYAN. 5 an increase in tlie windings applied to coi-es lVitnesses:

which are adapted to be rotated in twodiiec- JNO. M. RITTER,

tions by tlic rolls. H. T. BERNHARD. 

